Combined mop holder and wringejr



Feb. 7, 1956 H. P. GARRO COMBINED MOP HOLDER AND WRINGER Filed March 31 1950 United States a o COMBINED MOP HOLDER AND WRINGER Henri Pierre Garro, Pantin, France, ass'ignor to Etablisseinenfs Sable Freres, Pantin, France, a society of France The present invention relates to an improved sponge mop for washing tilings and walls, which is characterized mainly, by the fact that the sponge is disposed between a pair of plates hingedly connected to each other so as to form a more or less acute angle. A remote control device consisting of a rod or wire member mounted preferably inside the mop stick makes it possible to reduce the distance between the plates when it is desired to squeeze the sponge, Without stooping or touching the sponge with the hands.

Another feature of the invention is the possibility of fitting the mop with one or more sponges. A special sponge holder provided with fixing teeth enables the operator to use any kind of sponge andto wear them out completely.

A third feature of the invention is the provision of means whereby the user may keep the sponge in its fully squeezed condition by exerting a continuous tension on the Wire controlling device in view of having a very hard sponge at his disposal for removing particularly resistant stains.

Other characteristic features of the invention will appear from the following description of one possible embodiment of the invention illustrated diagrammatically in the annexed drawings by way of example.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the sponge mop in its washing position;

Fig. 1a is a partial similar view in larger scale with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is the same sponge mop in its washing position having parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is another View of the sponge mop having parts broken away according to the invention but in its spongesqueezing position.

Referring now to the drawings, the sponge mop according to the invention consists of a pair of plates 1, 2 of light or stainless metal (aluminium, etc.) or any other suitable material, which are hingedly connected to each other, for instance through a hinge pin 3.

' Plate 2 is rigidly secured by means of ferrule 2a to a stick 4, preferably of tubular or hollow section, terminating in a handle 5.

On the inner surfaces of both plates 1, 2 are disposed angle members 6 and 6a provided with teeth or similar projections 7 adapted to act as retaining members on the sponge E. Screw threaded rods 8 fitted with wing nuts 9 and integral with the angle members 6 and 6a are passed through slots 10 provided in plates 1, 2. With this device the angle members may be adjusted in the selected position and then clamped by means of wing nuts 9.

Plate '1 is provided with a ring 11 having attached thereto a wire or rod 12 passing internally of the stick 4, the other end of the wire or rod being secured to a handle 13, pivoting on a pivot pin 13a attached to handle 5.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that when a pressure is exerted on handle 13, wire 12 will 2 cause plate 1 to be moved toward plate 2 and the squeezi'ng action thus exerted on the sponge will be sufiicient for completely wringing it.

When the pressure will be released from handle 13 the inherent resiliency of the sponge will be sufiicient to move plate 1 away from plate 2 and bring the former to its original position. However, should this inherent resiliency of the sponge be deemed insufficient, a return spring 14 mounted on the upper end of the stick 4 (Figs. 1 and 1a) may be used in view of assisting the expansion of the sponge in order to bring it in its' initial shape, i. e. in its washing condition. Instead of a spring 14 it ,is also possible to use a torsion spring 14a wound around the hinge pin 3, the arrangement being such, in this case-,that each end of the spring will bear against one plate so as to urge the plates away from each other. Of course, any other return device of this type may be used, though it may be dispensed with if desired.

An essential feature of the invention is the abovedescribed sponge-holder mounted between plates 1 and 2. In fact, with this device the portion of the sponge which projects from the free edges of the plates may be adjusted very satisfactorily in order to compensate for its wear. This adjustment is carried out very easily by simply releasing the wing nuts 9 and sliding the sponge holding angle members 6. After having moved the angle members 6 in the desired position the wing nuts 9 are locked and the sponge mop is ready for use.

It will be observed that the working surface of the sponge is round, so that the sponge will more easily slide on the floor while the operation of the sponge mop is greatly facilitated.

The sponge may be completely pressed or squeezed when it is desired to remove particularly resistant stains.

A bead 15 is provided at the external lower end of each plate in order to protect the furniture and walls against shocks produced by the sponge mop.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be brought to the shape, material and construction of the apparatus according to the above described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new is: a

1. A combined mop holder and wringer comprising two plates hingedly connected together along their upper edges and adapted to form a variable acute angle between them, projecting members slidingly mounted on the internal face of at least one of said plates and adapted to slide towards and away from the hinged edges of the plates, a sponge inserted between said plates and retained in position by said projecting members, a handle secured by one of its ends to one of said plates, and means carried by said handle for swinging the other plate toward the first plate so as to compress the sponge when in operation and to wring the water from said sponge.

2. A combined mop holder and wringer comprising two plates hingedly connected together along their upper edges and adapted to form a variable acute angle between them, spring means interposed between said plates urging them apart, projecting members slidably mounted on the inner face of at least one of said plates and adapted to slide towards and away from the hinged edges of said plates, a sponge, adapted to contain a cleaning liquid, being inserted between said plates in said variable acute angle and being retained in position by said projecting members, a handle secured at one of its ends to one of said plates, and means carried by said handle for swinging the other plate toward the first plate so as to compress the sponge when in operation and to wring the cleaning A liquid from it.

3. 'A combined mop holder and wringer, comprising,

gether-along their-upper edges and adapted "to form" 'a variable acute angle between themselves; projecting member s h y 9 1 1999 1 theinn f o a l a of said plates and adaptedto lide toward s and aw yfr'orn the hingdedgesof said'plate'sgfa lspong'e; adapted tp .containa cleaning liquid, beingdnsert ed between said plates in saidflvariablegacute ang'lmandbein g retained in piisition by said projecting members, a handle secured at one of its ends to the outerface of one of said plates and ending at the other o'f its ends in a grip portion; and means carried by 'said handle for swinging the other of saidplates toward saidioneplatesfo' as to compress the sponge when ,1 Operation and to; wri g the cleaning liq- 111g :fromfthe' same, said meansjcomprisi'ng a; lever pivoted atfaf-pivot point onthe handle near the grip portion thereoran'd" extending from said pivot point in the direction of said grip portion so. that thei lever may be operated vfvith the one hand holding said grip portion of the handle, and a pull imemberconnected at one of its ends to the inner face of said other plateand at the other of its ends to a point of the lever adjacent said pivot point; and

handle for urging said lever away from said grip portion of said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES "PATENTS 548,622 Ballam Oct. 29, 1895 1,089,475 Iohnsonet a1 Mar, 10,1914 1,325,165 obolewicz Dec. 16,1919 1,539,857 Martin June 2, 1935 2,018,344 Bratz Oct. 22, 1935 2,196,837 Rader Apr. 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 56,684 Norway June 15, 1936 453,292 Italy Nov. 23, 1949 637,458 Germany Oct. 28, 1936 880,772 France Apr. 5, 1943 963,749 France Jan. 12, 

